May 4, 1999
Web posted at: 10:05 PM EDT (0205 GMT)

From CNN White House Correspondent John King and National Security Producer Chris Plante

WASHINGTON (CNN) --President Clinton instructed Defense Secretary William Cohen on Tuesday to review whether it was possible for the United States to release two Serb soldiers being held as prisoners of war, administration sources tell CNN.

The president is said to be in favor of making a reciprocal gesture after Belgrade's release of three American servicemen, and U.S. officials said there have been no objections from other NATO members.

CNN first reported Monday that the issue was under review. But U.S. officials say a final decision has not been made, citing several complications.

Chief among them, according to a senior administration official, are "legal issues covered by the Geneva convention" -- including the issue of whether the two men want to be released to the Yugoslav government.

This source and another administration official said this was "a major complication with at least one of these men."

Another official said there was a distinction between the Serbs and the U.S. soldiers because the Serbs were "combatants" while -- in the eyes of the United States anyway -- the U.S. soldiers were not. The United States says the three American soldiers were in Macedonia when they were apprehended; Yugoslavia says they had crossed into Kosovo.

Both POWs are being held by U.S. forces and have been transferred to a U.S. base in Germany, according to administration sources.

U.S. President Bill Clinton is said to look favorably on the idea of releasing the men, "but no final decision has been made," one of the officials said.

Clinton said Tuesday that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic made "the right decision" in releasing the three servicemen. They were turned over to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who urged Clinton to free the Serb POWs as a reciprocal gesture of good will.

One official did not rule out that it could come during the president's upcoming three-day trip to Europe.